Improvement in life-rafts



GVBEHRNB. Life-Raft.

No, 210,083. Y Patented Nov. 19, 1.878.

N. PETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON- R C.

NITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

CONRAD BEHRE, OF HOPEVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN LlFE-RAFTS.

. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 210,083, datedNovember 19, 1878 application filed J une 27, 1878. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CONRAD BEHRE, of

Hopeville, Mercer county, New Jersey, have in vented a new and usefulImprovement in Life- Rafts, which improvement is fully set forth in thefollowing specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side view of my raft, showingthe positions of the parts when the raft is not in use. Fig. 2 is across-section thereof when the parts are in a position for use. Fig. 3is a longitudinal central section of the forward part of the raft.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts. The chief aim of myinvention is to provide a life-raft which can be conveniently carriedabout when not in use, the same having also various other advantages, ashereinafter explained. It consists in a cylindricalair-ti'ght body,which is pointed at one or both ends, and provided with a centralvertical rod having a weight at its lower end, so that when the whole isplaced in the water the cylindrical body can be straddled by a personwhile its equilibrium is preserved by the action of the weight. I makethe weighted rod detachable from the cylindrical body to permit ofbringing the whole in a small compass and facilitate transportation, andalso make the rod adjustable in the direction of its length, so thattheweight can be raised or lowered at will to suit the condition of thewater or the posit-ion of the person occupying the raft, it beingdesirable to bring the weight in a lower position when a person standsupright. The weighted rod projects above and below the cylindrical bodyof the raft, and on its upper part or end it is provided with hooks orother means for connecting thereto a pair of cars, the latter bein gprovided with means to engage with these hooks, so that when the carsare put in place they are brought in a convenient position to be graspedby a person straddling the body of the raft. To a suitable part of thecylindrical body of the raft is hinged a covered frame, which, in itsnormal position, forms a seat, and when brought to an inclined position,forms a head-rest, the said frame being provided with a rope or chainfor connecting with the upper part of the vertical rodwhen it is desiredto retain the frame in its elevated position.

In the'drawing, the letter A designates the body of my raft, which has acylindrical shape, and is pointed at both ends. I hermetically seal thisbody A, so as to render the same airtight, and I prefer to construct thesame of sheet metal, and to divide the same into a series ofcompartments. One of these compartments (marked B) forms aprovision-chamber, and access is had through an opening covered by awater-proof dress,0. Near one end of the cylindrical bodyAis formedawell, D, (see Fig. 3,) for the reception of a mast, which, when not inuse, is fastened to the side of the body A by suitable straps.

The letter E designates the vertical rod of my raft, having a weight, F,at one end. This rod is made independent of the body A, but is fitted inholes a a formed opposite to each other in the central part thereof,through which holes the rod is passed when it is desired to use theraft. To the hole a, which is in' that part of the body A constitutingthe top of the raft, is secured a collar, 1), which is provided with aset-screw, F, by which the rod is held in the position to which it maybe adjusted.

The rod E is arranged'to project above the cylindrical body A, as shown,and after the same has been adjusted in the desired position I secure toits upper end hooks b N, and connect thereto the looped ends 01 d of apair of oars, G G. When the raft is packed up these oars G G may befastened to the side of the cylindrical body A by straps c c, as shownin Fig. 1.

The letter H designates a yoke-shaped frame, which is hinged to thecylindrical body A, and partially covered by a piece of canvas, I, orother flexible material. To this frame are connected the two ends of arope or chain, c.

It will be seen that the cylindrical body A can be straddled or stoodupon by the person desiring to use my raft, and it is prevented fromupsetting by the weighted rod E. while the oars G G are in a convenientposition to be used in propelling the raft.

-When the coveredv frame H is allowed to remain in its normalposition-that is to say, when the same is allowed to rest on thecylindrieal body A-it forms a seat, while, when it is slightly raised,so as to bring the same in an inclined position, as shown in dottedoutline in Fig. 1, it can be used as a head-rest. 'When the frame H isused as last stated, the straps c 0 can be utilized forholdin g oneslegs, and thus a very comfortable position can be taken on my raft.

For the purpose of retaining the frame H in its raised position, Iconnect the cord or chain c to the upper part of the weighted rod E inany suitable manner.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a life-boat, the combination,with a cylindrical air-tight body, ofa verticallyadj ustable rod, passing centrally through the same andprojecting therefrom at both ends,the lower end being provided with aweight, and the upper end constructed to support oars for propelling theboat, substantially as described.

2. In a life-raft, the combination, with a cylindrical air-tight body,pointed at one or both ends, of a rod, which passes centrally throughsaid body so as to project therefrom at both ends, a weight secured tothe lower end of said rod, hooks or equivalent devices secured to theupper end of the rod, and oars, which are adapted to engage with saidhooks or their substitutes, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

3. In a life-raft, the combination, with a cylindrical body, pointed atone or both ends, of a weighted rod passing centrally through said body,a covered frame hinged to said body, and a rope or chain, which isfastened to said frame and adapted to be connected to the rod,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

CONRAD BEHRE. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

LAMBERT L. HOWELL, JOHN G. HOWELL.

